(CNN) — The masked man appears briefly, for only a frame or two, but it’s startling nonetheless.

The not-yet-identified killer of kidnapped American photographer James Foley is featured in an ominous and risky campaign ad released Monday by New Mexico’s Republican nominee for Senate, Allen Weh, the underdog challenger to first-term Democratic Senator Tom Udall.

Weh, a Marine combat veteran and onetime New Mexico Republican Party Chairman, appears to be the first candidate this cycle to use Foley’s gruesome execution as campaign fodder, portraying the murder as one consequence of a rudderless American foreign policy mismanaged by President Obama and Udall.

Foley himself is cropped out of the web video, leaving only the stark image of the black-clad jihadist, clutching a blade in the Syrian desert.

That picture is on screen for barely two seconds second and then fades quickly into a cascade of dark Middle East scenery — including ISIS militants in Iraq and the bombing of mosques — all of it intercut with video of Obama playing golf and vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard.

“To change Washington, you must change your Senator,” reads a banner at the conclusion of the ad, titled “Restore Leadership.”

Udall leads Weh by double digits in recent polling and is considered safe in his re-election bid with just over two months until Election Day.

Despite its former swing state status and a Republican governor in office, New Mexico has drifted Democratic in federal elections over the last decade, thanks in part to its growing Hispanic population.

soundoff(92 Responses)

Holy crap, even I'm impressed with the lack of morals coming from the right. Leave it to the good ole GOP, they have no scruples, no class, and if you were smart, few votes!

August 25, 2014 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |

Rudy NYC

Right wing fear mongering at its' ugly best. I guess someone finally has to point out that we didn't see anyone executed under George W. Bush, did we? There were, in fact, a few gruesome murders. True to form, Republicans used those incidents to reinforce their "war on terror" narrative, which they are now trying to resurrect.

August 25, 2014 12:46 pm at 12:46 pm |

Steve, New York City

They're using veiled image of a brutal, horrific murderer of an innocent American in a campaign ad? Hard not to see their decision to do so as reflecting extremely poor taste.

August 25, 2014 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |

Sniffit

Disgusting. I hope Foley's family and estate rip him a new one.

August 25, 2014 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |

Rudy NYC

"The not-yet-identified killer of kidnapped American photographer James Foley is featured in an ominous and risky campaign ad released Monday, ... ... ...
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I know of one major U.S. news medial outlet that has published a name. It almost make you think that they wanted to give the guy a heads up, so that he won't get caught anytime in the near future.

August 25, 2014 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |

Gurgyl

Holy crap, even if Bush, or Lindsey Graham or John McCain goes to Iran, or Iraq or Afghanistan the find the same fate. Nothing new here, GOP can not cash-in this this way. How idiotic this way of thinking. Going to Iraq on WMD itself is WRONG–now entire middle-east is Destabilized. Republican fault, GOP failure. Why do Americans have to go there? Don't they know this is Muslim world? Nonsense. Again, none of the Muslim world is ready for your Democracy. Period.

August 25, 2014 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Weh, a Marine combat veteran and onetime New Mexico Republican Party Chairman, appears to be the first candidate this cycle to use Foley’s gruesome execution as campaign fodder,
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Well maybe the first "candidate" but certainly not the first GOPeeing Teatard.
Let's not forget Rick Perry and his Mexican ISIS.

August 25, 2014 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Fair is Fair

Someone's campaign manager needs to be fired.

@Rudy... so nice to see you painting with your ever-broad brush. Again.

August 25, 2014 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

Al-NY,NY

and republicans scream that democrats use Sandy Hook victims in ads?

August 25, 2014 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

sonny chapman

From the Party "Asleep at the Wheel" on 9-11-01 & who said we KNOW Sadaam has NuCLEAR Weapons & he's about to give 'em to Bin Laden.

August 25, 2014 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

Ali

Maybe the Democrats should you the burning twin towers in an Ad. What an idiot Republicans. No common sense

Doesn't surprise me! Right wingers already are paranoid this just adds to their platform. So much for showing compassion for the families loss. Oh wait I forgot they don't even know what that means useless it's about them!

This is low, even for the GOPT. I'm sure their apologists will be screaming the Dems do it too!

August 25, 2014 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

Jeff Brown in Jersey

We have Bush, Cheney and his Neo Con mob to thank for destabilizing the Middle East with their lies and greed. They should all be rounded up and tried at Nuremberg!

August 25, 2014 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

Sniffit

"lol, when the facts mysteriously disappear on someones hard drive, a reasonable person might the pardon the republicans for coming up with their own conclusions from there."

Except that's not what they did. There was no "from there." They're conclusions were foregone and adamantly, dogmatically adhered to well before anything happened to any hard drives. They had made their minds up from the GET GO and were blatantly involved in trying to backfill the evidence to support those pre-judged conclusions, not collect evidence and THEN come to a conclusion. There wasn't a moment of any of the GOP/Teatroll nontroversy witch-hunts during which the GOP/Teatrolls weren't absolutely convinced they already knew what happened prior to having any evidence or during which they weren't talking about the entire nontroversy and investigation as if all of their accusations had already been proven and just needed a little factual spackle to fill in some minor gaps. You know, "minor" gaps like having zero evidence whatsoever proving direct involvement or political intent from Obama and such.

August 25, 2014 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |

Gary

At least it took him a couple days. Mitt jumped on Benghazi the night it happened.
Disgusting bunch.

@Rudy... so nice to see you painting with your ever-broad brush. Again.
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Who? Me? Glad to see that you haven't lost the knack for misguided posts. Your quote is WAY OFF the mark.

August 25, 2014 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

Tone

Republicans are a repulsive bunch.

August 25, 2014 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

Anonymous

Politicizing the death of an American journalist. Breathtakingly unbelievable, yet disgusting to say the least.

August 25, 2014 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |

Silence DoGood

The desperation of the radical right is ugly but it also has consequences. Look at the misguided (or guided?) folks who act out in violence based on the Tea Party calls for bloody government overthrow.

August 25, 2014 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

Really???

Apparently it worked well. It got the attention of the Liberal CNN channel and all of you. It puts in stark reality the damage this inexperienced Community Organizer has done.
Wonder what his best golf score was? Thought you all would want to change the subject at this point.